Point Beach Introduces Streamlined Outdoor Dining Ordinance

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ – At their meeting on June 1, the Point Pleasant Beach borough council introduced an ordinance that would allow restaurants in town to continue to offer outdoor dining once the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

Borough officials said during the ordinance’s introduction that this new, more redefined ordinance took into consideration residents that live near restaurants as businesses will have to go through the planning board if they wish to make any changes to their outdoor dining plan.

“When we jumped into the state of emergency, we were trying to approve everything we can, we were letting people do whatever they wanted, and quite frankly, a lot of it looks like it was thrown together at the last minute,” said Mayor Paul Kanitra during the introduction.

“It’s still streamlining because they won’t have to go to zoning, they’ll be able to go to planning; it takes into account the residents, since they’ll get notified, and then an objective group figures it out.”

According to the ordinance, from April to November, restaurants can have outdoor dining in parking lots, driveways, and on rooftops until 10 p.m; as long as their outdoor seating is 200 feet away from the neighboring single-family structure unless there’s another structure in the way.

Participating restaurants will have to pay a yearly $200 fee and will also have to pay $300 per parking space for each outdoor seat unless they already have parking.